Former CFL star, Denver Bronco LB Alex Singleton has surgery for testicular cancer

Denver Broncos inside linebacker Alex Singleton watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

CALGARY — Former CFL star and current Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton underwent testicular cancer surgery less than 24 hours after he played in an NFL game.

During three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, Singleton earned the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player award in 2017 and won a Grey Cup in 2018 before heading to the NFL.

Singleton wrote in an Instagram post Monday that he wrestled with sharing personal information publicly, “but the fact is, if it helps one person decide to pay closer attention to their body, then it is well worth it.”

“Early detection and regular screenings save lives and can save loved ones a lot of grief.”

The 31-year-old had surgery Friday after playing the previous night in Denver’s 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Singleton had nine tackles in the game.

“The short week honestly made it better,” Singleton said Monday. “On Tuesday, Wednesday, I got to fully immerse myself in football and ... get this off of my mind as much as I could because we weren’t going to know anything until after the surgery anyway — and still don’t 100 per cent know everything.

“So, the biggest thing for me was how to get my mind off it, so football was the best thing to do that. Playing Thursday night here in our throwbacks made me able to block out everything that was going on in my mind.”

An elevated hormone level showed up in his random drug test as part NFL’s drug testing two weeks ago. An ultrasound last week confirmed testicular cancer.

The Californian believes the cancer was detected and treated early enough that he will play again this season.

“This journey I’m going to continue talking about it and sharing it with you guys and everybody else just knowing that there shouldn’t be a big stigma behind it,” Singleton said.

“Yeah, we can get the word out to get everybody screened and checked. Don’t be afraid of the doctor, because I was for a long time.”

Singleton spent his first three NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and is in his third with the Broncos.

He shared his diagnosis with his Denver teammates and coaches Monday morning. Singleton won’t play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The six-foot-two, 240-pound inside linebacker out of Montana State recorded 13 double-digit tackle games in 2023 for the most by any NFL player since at least 1999.

Singleton compiled 311 tackles, four sacks, one interception, six forced fumbles and 17 special-teams tackles in 54 career games with the Stampeders. He led the CFL in tackles in 2018 with 129.

With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2025.